Harley's patented Jiffy Stand will retract itself if you ride off with it down but is locked in place weight on the stand. Japanese bikes used to come with a rubber strip pointed at the ground that would drag and retract the stand.

After disconnecting the switch I rode off with mine down. I had parked on the side stand but put it on the center stand for fueling. I reconnected the switch after that. Probably would never do that again but I might.

I've left with my aftermarket side stand down..no big deal as the scraping sound tells it all...probably did it three times over a 4 year period...it's that moment when u say, what the hell was i thinking...if anything its more embarrassing if someone was watching....

Some of the Ducati super bikes have a side stand that retracts as soon as you tilt the bike up. Great for riding safety, not so great for the parking lot browser casually sitting on bikes when he goes to put it back. There's a nice aftermarket eliminator for this.

I had a Ducati 900SS that got that alternare spring mounting attachment as soon as I got the bike, caused by a much earlier experience with a Bultaco Matador with the handy spring loaded side stand. I went into a gas station and as I got a bit close to the pump, I shoved the side stand down, but had to get off on the right. As I did that, I pulled the bike up a bit, then let go of it so it would drop back onto the side stand. It dropped into the pump! Fortunately, no damage, other than to my ego. Don't like those spring loaded things. Also had a Yamaha Fazer that the side stand switch would cut out, especially coming off a stop light when you were about half way across the street. I found the just a little kick on the side stand would reset it. I finally cleaned it with some contact cleaner and never had any more problems with it. And I have forgotten to put the stand up on a few occasions in the last 50 years. A loud scraping noise joins with a bit of an embarrassing wobble. My issue with the Bullet side stand is that it's too short and lets the bike lean over too far. I tried to find one of the adjustable ones, but they are apparently amongst the unobanium bits, so I guess it will be off to the hacksaw and welding torch. Or I'll just live with it.Bare

Just out of curiosity I sat on a Harley in a dealers a while back, not realising that the side stand would automatically retract itself. Having amused myself for a couple of minutes I started to get off the bike only to have the wee beastie fall over and nearly break my leg.

Has anyone bypassed the cut-off on the side stand. Pretty hard to stop and kick down the stand and not shut off the motor but SOMETIMES it may be nice to be able to start the bike with it down - kick for example ::""

I couldn't agree more! Had the bike just two days and the only thing that really bugs me is this stupid switch! I really want to be able to kick start it and I always did my old Bonnie on the side stand! I am more worried that I'll start it up and while letting it warm up, go to put it back on the side stand that won't be there!! I will be disconnecting it very shortly!

In 31 years of riding I think I've ridden off once with it down and got shouted at that it was. Didn't catch in the ground so got away with it. If it was like the new Triumph's and cut out if you put it in gear with it down, then that would be fine but no start in neutral?!? Just daft!